Babar Azam's struggles in the Big Bash League (BBL) have deepened after another disappointing performance for the Sydney Sixers. The Pakistan star was dismissed for just 9 runs off 10 deliveries in a match against the Adelaide Strikers on Wednesday. This latest setback follows a debut in which he scored only 2 runs off 5 balls against the Perth Scorchers.

Azam's brief innings against the Strikers came to an end in the third over when he was caught by Matt Short off a delivery from Luke Wood. Wood, the English paceman who dismissed Azam, was recently signed by the Gujarat Titans for INR 75 Lakh in the IPL Auction.

Expectations were high for Babar Azam entering the BBL, with many hoping he would use the tournament to regain his form ahead of the T20 World Cup. After a mixed bag of performances since returning to Pakistan's T20I squad following the Asia Cup, the BBL was seen as an opportunity to rediscover his rhythm. However, his performances thus far have done little to inspire confidence.

In his BBL debut against the Scorchers, Azam opened the batting but struggled to find his footing. He was dismissed by Brody Couch after mistiming a pull shot, with commentators noting that he appeared to be "beaten by the bounce". The Sydney Sixers lost the match by five wickets.

Despite Azam's struggles, the Sydney Sixers managed to post a total of 159/9 in their 20 overs against the Adelaide Strikers. Josh Philippe top-scored with 46 runs. The team has a packed schedule ahead, and Babar Azam is expected to be a key figure in their plans for the BBL season. Other Pakistani players participating in the BBL this season include Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Rizwan.

Babar Azam's poor performances have drawn criticism and sparked concern among fans. The BBL even took a cheeky dig at the Pakistani star, posting a video of his first ball in the tournament on social media. As the Sydney Sixers continue their BBL campaign, all eyes will be on Babar Azam as he looks to turn his form around.